Shawl

In Mandor there is one item of clothing that marks the difference between those who live there and those passing through, the shawl. No one quite knows why but a long held tradition of Mandor before even the rise of the Empire and the Tribal Wars has always been to rap the shawls around oneself, the influx of cultures and the large climate differences of the vast continent often make these vary radically but the premise is the same. The act of forcing two pieces of cloth together with thread is seen as violent and only necessary during war time. Because of this many shawls and variations have popped up all over Mandor and other places but the premise is the same, if a Mandorian voluntary dawns a pieces of structured fabric there will be violence its just a matter of time.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

There are many kinds of shawls, the most simple are listed below in order of how many pieces of fabric it takes.  Peplos- a single pieces of square or rectangular fabric, worn by the rich and poor in two different fashions, the short fashion, was to rap the cloth under the arm pit then pin it on the opposite shoulder with a broach, the exes fabric was then folded from the hem to the waist and tied. The long version worn by the rich mostly is not tied an gaps open on the side, some add under layers or a belt of some sort, metal or a silk sash, a silk sash's only use is decorative and is usually suggestively, there would be no underlay if the silk sash was added. Cordin-a single piece of fabric cut with a pattern in mind, it it usually very long with varying widths. The wider parts are meant to be for cover and the longer for holding in place, among the poor the Cordin is popular as a field outfit as it can cover a lot or a little depending on the weather and its verticality is endless. Among the wealthier the Cordin is not a common garment unless used under a sheer garment but the style is out of fashion. Leret- A two piece garment, the first is a small peplos like pieces that is lightly rapped then a second long thin length of fabric usually about twice the person hight with beads on both ends is used to tie the first piece into place, a festive garment used when going into the city and when festivals come around also commonly worn to weddings and parties of the sort, when worn by those of the middle class a s couple sheer pieces called Oro are usually added and held to the arms, legs, wait, and or neck with metal bands. Seradin- a five piece outfit worn during travel, the first layer is a simple cloth woven around the lions and common the ridding parts of the leg, the second is rapped around the chest made often of the same fabric a blade sheath is fit tightly along the spin or across the should of this rapping. The third piece is usually just a tunic like cover that commonly doesn't reach the knees, the two front slim end is tucked unto the loincloth then they widen into one over the front on one or both shoulders where they cross around the front under the bestow just across the chest then they can be sighed however one pleases leaving the wide panels to hang down over the hips most often or in the front and back, the shet is only added in cold or very sunny climates, a long think cloth that ties at the thumbs its hooked around one twisted around the arm over the beck or secretly over the front to the other arm where the process is then veered until it is tied at the other thumb. The last piece is a cloak with a large base it thins to the width of the torso where it is then used to rap the head or neck in a fashion, an attached viel is common and so is a drop mewl used to keep the top in place.
Other garments and their complicated structures uses and fabrics can be found in the Weaver and Clother's Guild Books.

Significance

The shawl is rapped around a person in a show of faith that others do not mean them harm, to walk around in anything but the unbowed garment would be similar to declaring you are currently hostile. One reason many say is that all garments no matter how complex can be shed but there is debate the current most popular theory is that the people of old like quick access when they where feeling frisky. Still others say its for religious reasons and others still tell us there is a magic in the threads, whatever the reason the truth of the shawl is a universal one in Mandor.

Item type

Clothing / Accessory

Related ethnicities

• Mandorian

Rarity

Extremely Common, embroidered shawls however are expensive and depending on fabric size and shape of the cloth, it can vary in how common it is in any particular area.